MYRMECOFAUNA OF LUCIDOPHYLLOUS FORESTS IN DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES IN SOUTH-WESTERN JAPAN

Lucidophyllous forest is the climax vegetation of the lowland and foot hill areas of south-western Japan. We investigated the myrmecofauna of lucidophyllous forests in different developmental stages in relation to the intensity of disturbance. The less-disturbed lucidophyllous for ests contained a greater variety of myrmecofauna. This pattern was exp lained by the condition of the habitat. Richness in epigeal and/or hyp ogeal ant species is related to habitat structure, especially vegetati on structure expressed as summed vegetation cover, and the proportion of evergreen trees was a better predictor of ant species richness than the depth of the soil organic layer. In disturbed stands, habitat con ditions have deteriorated; subsequently, some silivicolous ant species have disappeared.